Solve Problems With a Humidifier Throughout Heating Season

Winter in the Portland area has its own set of challenges. One problem
that doesn’t have to be too difficult to deal with is dry air from
your heating system.

A good level of humidity inside a home ranges from 30 to 50 percent. When
you use your heating system, it naturally removes humidity, lowering it
as far as 10 percent.

How to Tell if Your Home’s Humidity is Too Low

Obvious symptoms of too-dry air include:

Dry, cracking skin on your hands and feet

Chapped lips

Sore, dry nose

Bloody nose

Itchy skin that is soothed by lotion

Additional Low Humidity Problems

In addition to these minor discomforts, having low humidity can create
the perfect atmosphere for certain types of viruses. It can also worsen
the symptoms of people who suffer from allergies and eczema.

Your house can feel some discomfort from low humidity, too. When the air
is too dry, you can start to see peeling and cracks in your paint and
wallpaper. All the wood in your house needs a certain level of humidity
to stay in good condition.

The Solution: A Humidifier

If you’re seeing signs of dry air in your home, there’s a simple
solution. You can get a humidifier to help add moisture to your air.

There are two choices in humidifiers. Individual units cost less but don’t
allow you to have much control over the amount of humidity in your air.
You also have to be careful to keep them clean. The damp environment inside
the unit can be a good growing place for mold and mildew if not properly
maintained.

A whole-home humidifier is a bigger investment, but it allows you to set
your humidity where you want it. This can be particularly useful when
you have family members with breathing problems. Whole-home humidifiers
release their water vapor into your ducts, allowing the humidity to reach
all parts of the house evenly.

Whether you need to know more about humidifiers or have other HVAC problems
that need solving in your Portland-area home, we’re here to help.
Contact Roth Heating & Cooling today.